Shalom,
When I was a child, I often heard my grandma tell my
mother she hopes she'll have naches from her children. I never actually realized what this obscure yidish word
meant, until very recently.
Several weeks ago, I was sharing breakfast with a good
friend, a wise man, and he told me: "soak up the time, enjoy every moment,
enjoy the naches." This was in the context of Nitsan's graduation and
the celebrations and ceremonies surrounding that.
I'm sharing this with all of you, because yesterday was
yet another day of extreme pleasure, feeling of pride, and a lot of naches,
that I soaked deeply.
I was very emotional during the
dedication event, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. When I saw Gilboa's name on the new camp sign I was moved
beyond words. When the mezuzzah was being set and the entire crowd
was chanting the written words it was a holy moment, one which can rarely be
experienced. When Yoni took all of us to the next generation, and the
generation after that, it was a journey only few have the privilege to
experience.
But, it goes far beyond that.
The kids, the madrichim, the site!
Year after year, I'm awe-struck by the impact camp has on the kids. Their independence, how they come to camp shy and open up, able to talk and express their views and what's on their minds.
Their happiness, joy, real connection between the kids of all groups, the shira, the rikud, all of it!
Would one be able to achieve that without an amazing tzevet?
I really didn't want to leave camp yesterday, and in my last comment I told someone: "you don't really know what you are doing; you can't fully appreciate what an amazing place you have created and are keeping because you live in it every day; you wake up in it, you go to sleep on it. But make no mistake, what you have is unique and magical in every sense of the word."
Jewish tradition has many ways to congratulate achievements: chazak ve'ematz and yashar koach which both mean literately may you become stronger, but figuratively give you commendation on a good deed or mitzvah.
So, chazak ve'ematz and yashar koach to all !
Avi (Nitsan and Aviv's father)
For those that didn't make it to Visitors Day, and for those who did and want to be reminded of the moments, here are some of them.
Noah, Rosh Machanech, welcoming all of the parents to visitors day
Sayalim, Bonim and Chotrim sing Spendor Bridge, a song which was written many years ago AT Camp Gilboa
Bogrim and Madatz sing Lo Kala Darkenu
All the camp sing sing Shir LaShalom
Yoni talks with campers about what makes camp special for them, and how we all can share the vision of have OUR camp be the camp for the next generations (part 1, part 2)
Here are some pictures taken by David - Thank you, David !
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